Integral felted fibrous structure



R. E. HALL INTEGRAL FELTED FIBROUS STRUCTURE Dec. 29, 1931.

Filed April 9. 1930 J52 311 Z07 Jfz'dzard if HaZZ.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice RICHARD E. HALL, OF OLEALl', NEW YOBK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ABVEY-WABE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE II\T'IEG'B.AL FELTED FIBROUS STRUCTURE Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to a felted fibrous receptacle, and refers specifically to a felted fibrous structure having an'inwardly tapering body and an integral flaring base or support.

The utility of the invention and the objects and advantages thereof will beapparent from the accompanying drawings and following detail description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation illustrating particularly the separable frame upon which my fibrous structure may be felted;

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation, partly in 15 section, of my finished product.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates a base or support which may oomprise a portion of the peripheral surface of a felting wheel adapted to be rotated in a a trough (not shown), containing a solution of fibrous pulp. A frame 2 provided at its lower end with an annular flange 3 may be mounted upon the upper surface of support 1 by means of bolts 4 or the like. If desired, the frame 2 may'comprise a foraminated cone 5, mounted upon the surface of which may be a screen 6. The upper portion of the structure 2 may be provided with an axially disposed opening 7.

A frustro-conical frame 8 may be mounted upon the apex of frame 2 and may be provided with an extension 9 adapted to be inserted in opening 7. To provide firm contact between the extension 9 and the walls of the opening 7 a plurality of leaf or blade springs 10 may be mounted upon the external surface of the projection 9 and are adapted to contact the inner surface of opens ing 7.

The frame 8 may comprise a foraminated supporting structure 11 having a screen 12 upon its outer surface. The flaring end 13 of frame 8 may be provided with an imperforate closure 14. An aperture 15 disposed centrally within the projection 9 may connect the interiors of frames 2 and 8.

The support 1, instead of being a portion of the peripheral surface of a felting wheel, may comprise, if desired, any portable supeo porting member capable of permitting the in- 1930. Serial No. 442,963.

sertion of the frames 2 and 8 into a pulp soluprovided in the apex of frame 2 and projection 9.

In carrying out my invention, frame 2 may be mounted upon support 1 by means of bolts 4, or the like, and projection 9 of the frame 8 may be inserted in the opening 7. The entire structure comprising frame 2 and frame 8 may then be inserted in a pulp solution and a condition of partial vacuum may be established within both of said frames by means of suction through pipe 16.

Due to the reduced pressure within the frames 2 and 8, the pulp comprising the pulp solution will'be drawn to the surface of said frames and the suspended fibrous material will cling or adhere to the-outer screens 6 and 12, whereas the major portion of the water in which the fibrous shreds are suspended will pass through said screens and through apertures 19 in the supporting structures 5 and 11.

It has been found by experience that by the provision of suitable vacuum within frames 2 and 8, approximately 97% of the water in the pulp solution will pass through apertures 19, leaving a deposited coating of fi brous material 20 upon the outer surface of said frames, having a water content of 65% to 75%.

' When a desirable quantity of fibrous material 20 has accumulated upon the surface of screens 6 and 12, air under pressure may be applied through pipe 16 to the interiors of frames 2 and 8, thereby tending to remove the fibrous coating 20 as a unit from the frame 2 and simultaneously remove the frame 8 'out of contact with the inner surface of If desired, the accumulated fibrous material 20 may be dried upon the frames 2 and y 8 before the above mentioned separation is brought about, or said separation may take place While the accumulated coating 20 still contains the 65% to 75% water content.

In the forming of the fibrous material, a rough, irregular surface 21, resembling the bark of a tree, is produced. No further processing is necessary to produce this bark simulation since this action takes place as a physical feature of forming of pulp on a cylindrical form.

Heretofore it has been deemed substantially impossible to produce an integral fibrous structure having a restricted intermediate section and an outwardly flaring base by means of felting due to the inherent diificuL ties involved in Withdrawing the felting frames. As has been hereinbefore described, by means of my invention, this problem has been efliciently and completely solved.

The finished product, if desired, may be constructed in the form of a base 22, the rough, irregular bark-like exterior being painted or enameled in various colors to suit the artistic sense. To provide greater stability-for the base-like structure, the lower portion thereof may be filled with a plastic material 23, such as plaster of Paris, asphalt, or the like.

It is to be understood, of course, that I do not Wish to limit my invention to the exact geometrical structureshown, inasmuch as I contemplate broadly the production of an' integral felted fibrous structure or receptacle having a relatively restricted intermediate portion and an outwardly flaring base.

I claim as my invention:

1. A felted fibrous structure having a comparatively restricted intermediate section and a flaring base.

2. An integral felted fibrous structure having a comparatively restricted intermediate section-and a flaring base.

3. A felted fibrous receptacle having a comparatively restricted intermediate section and a flaring base and mouth.

4. An integral felted fibrous structure having a comparatively restricted intermediate section and a flaring Weighted base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD E. HALL. 

